A cholinergic synapse is a chemical synapse that uses acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter. Release of acetylcholine allows it to bind receptors on the receiving cell. The response depends on receptor type: a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor is an ion channel, whereas a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor signals through a G protein.[ref]
At a neuromuscular junction, activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors helps trigger a skeletal-muscle action potential. Other cholinergic pathways can change a cell's activity more slowly through muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Thus naming the transmitter does not completely specify the postsynaptic effect. Acetylcholinesterase helps terminate signaling by breaking down acetylcholine in the synaptic region.[ref]
Anatomy and Physiology 2e by J. Gordon Betts and others. §12.5, cholinergic transmission; §10.3, neuromuscular junction
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